Zwei nebeneinander sitzende weibliche Akte 

Hans von Marées created this drawing, "Zwei nebeneinander sitzende weibliche Akte," with graphite on paper. The subdued tonality and visible pencil strokes give the work a raw, immediate quality, evoking a sense of intimacy and contemplation. Marées’s composition explores the relationship between the figures and the space they occupy. The women are placed close together, yet there's a distinct lack of engagement between them, which creates a psychological tension. The lines are tentative, as though Marées is searching for the ideal form, blurring the distinction between figure and ground. The background suggests an outdoor setting, yet it's rendered with the same level of detail as the figures, flattening the space and emphasizing the two-dimensionality of the drawing. This deliberate flattening challenges traditional notions of perspective and representation. Instead of creating a window onto the world, Marées presents us with a self-contained system of signs. We are encouraged to focus on the formal qualities of the work rather than its illusionistic properties. This focus on form over content reflects Marées's engagement with the broader artistic and philosophical concerns of his time.